Shammi Silva – You got a mail!
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Dear Shammi,
I hope addressing you as ‘dear’ won’t offend you. For a moment, I forgot you’re no longer the Shammi Silva we knew before you rose to the helm of Sri Lanka Cricket.
The power and authority you now wield are impressive, to the extent that you seem unaware of the chaos engulfing our beloved game under your leadership.
It’s worth noting that, during your tenure, Sri Lanka faced early exits in five ICC tournaments since 2019: two 50-over tournaments and three T20 tournaments. But who’s keeping count, right?
Despite many ‘brilliant moves’ like dismissing coaches, selectors, managers and even shuffling players, the outcomes remain consistent. You appear unfazed as you enjoy the privileges of your influential position.
You have failed to acknowledge that the problems crippling SLC are far more serious than you think. It is widely believed that the root cause lies within your Maitland Place headquarters—a lack of vision to revive the game.
Calls for a structural overhaul and professional management are being ignored to maintain your power and status. Former Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe tried ousting you and your team. You outmanoeuvered him. You now have a ‘friendly minister’ who conveniently rewrote the sports regulations to enable you to reign for another term, even if the sport you govern breathes its last. What a masterstroke!
You are now not required to answer anyone as the minister is himself is doing the laundering, squarely laying the blame for cricketing debacles on coaches. It’s a familiar playbook—he did the same in his last stint as Sport Minister when he got rid of Chandika Hathurusinghe following Sri Lanka’s exit at the Asia Cup. He does not think to question you or your committee. Interesting, isn’t it?
The Minister has spoken up for the selectors, the aging players, the consultant coach and the team that he signed off on, almost as if he were your spokesman. He has taken on critics, including some former cricketers, and accused them of having personal agendas. You don’t need to do anything as the ‘Hon. Minister’ is washing the dirty linen. Let him revel in the limelight for now.
He seems oblivious that some of our cricketers are overweight and doesn’t believe in questioning why the strict fitness standards enforced in 2021 are no longer in place.
He doesn’t see that the allure of wealth and fame has overshadowed the importance of representing the country with honour.
He doesn’t feel that the discipline is paramount—so much so that he kept silent when SLC got Wanindu Hasaranga to emerge from Test retirement to avoid a four-match playing ban.
Did he ever ask you how long you and your team have been in your jobs?
The Lanka Premier League, your brainchild, has fattened SLC coffers but tarnished the game’s reputation with match-fixing scandals. Can you name a single player unearthed by this tournament besides Vijayakanth Viyaskanth? I doubt it. When Dimuth Karunaratne got picked at the auction and Kusal Janith misses out, I rest my case.
The Indian Premier League (IPL) is not only a money spinner but has given India an opportunity to strengthen its reserves. They can field a second string that’s far better than our national team.
To preserve cricket’s esteemed reputation demands integrity and vision in management. These qualities are lacking in the current regime. It’s time to prioritise the game’s revival over personal agendas and power plays. You have failed to realise that the limited over game has evolved rapidly and that we haven’t kept up with the rest of the world. FYI, Afghanistan, Nepal, and even USA are some examples.
The future of our game hangs in the balance, teetering on the edge of irreparable damage. The echoes of discontent reverberate through the hearts of fans who once cheered their team passionately. They are disillusioned by this unending uncertainty.
As custodian of the sport, the burden of responsibility lies heavy on your shoulders. It is not too late to steer the ship back to course, to chart a new trajectory that restores faith and pride in the cricketing fraternity.
A concerned cricket fan